Spring-tire.



E. F. CRAIG &W. FREEMAN.

SPRING URE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. i9 1915. LQSSAQS.,

Patented June 26, i917.

@SHEETS-SHEET 1.

w/mfssfsf C. F. CRA|G*& W. FREEMAN.

SPRING TIRE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I9, l9l5v Patented June 26, 1917.

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be evident that by turning the nut 21 the angle rings 12-13 may be movedtoward -each other to cause them to fit closely the '24, the said screwsbeing passed through the base and iii/'engagement with the belt. Theportions 12 of the angle rings are notchedor recessed as indicated at atthe base, so that the said portions 12 do not interfere with thebase,'and are not discom moded 'thereby in their movement of adjustment.

Each plunger 9 within a guide casing 10, and it will be noticed from aninspection of Figs. 4 and 5 that each guide casing while' ofapproximately the same width as ,the plunger is of greater length, sothat a'limited angular movement is permitted between the lpl'ungers andthe guide casings. The plungers and the guidecasings however, limit theangular movement of Vthe tread member with respect'to therim member, andcushioning mechanism is arranged between the tread member and the rimmember for cushioning the movement of the parts with respect to eachother. 4

Each of the cushioning mechanisms comprises a frusto-co'nical stop 26,which has a stem 27 at its large endand the lstem is passed throughregistering openings in a washer 28. and in the body of the tread imember, and the said stem is headed'at the outer face of the treadmember.' The tread y 3 fits over the up-set heads of the-stems 7,

and each washer is shaped to fit the concave inner face of the treadmember at one face of the washer, thel other face being plane.

A shoulder is provided between the stop 26 and the stem 27, and thisshoulder 29 abuts against the plane face of the washer. A similar stoppin 30 is connected with the belt 1,1 in radial alinement with each stop29, bv. means of a-reduced stem 31 at the large end of the stop. Thisstem is passed through an opening in the belt member and up-set orheaded at the inner face of the belt member. It will be noted that both'the body of the tread member and the belt 11 are counterbored or reamedfor receiving the up-set heads of thestems 2,7 and 31.

A coil spring 32 is--arranged between each washer 28 and the belt, eachspring embracing or encircling a stop 26- at one end and Va stop 30 atthe other. fashers 33 of resilient material, as Afor instance. rubber,encircle the stop members, one of the washers 33 resting on the outerface of the belt 11, While the other rests upon the plane face .of thewasher. The portions 12 of the strips lfitting against the inner facesof the portions 13 of the angle rings.

It will be noticed from an inspection of Fig. 1 that the washers have anelliptical outline and that the washers 33 are circular. The springs aresufiiciently strong to cushion shock and jar between the rim member andthe tread member', and the weight of the springs and their spacing willdepend 'to a considerable extent upon the. load to be carried' by thetire. The. tread 3-l5 prevents slipping and skidding of the tire,

of the and if desired the metal tread may be provided with a solid treadportion of rubber or the like, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. In thisconstruction the tread member is of U-shape or channel-shape, comprisinga body 36 andside walls 37, the channel facing inward as in Fig. 1. Thetread carrylng member 1s a channel-shaped ring, with the channel tacingoutward, and the ring is curved transversely to tit the peripheralsurface of the tread member. The tread carrying member comprises a .body38, having at each side edge a continuous marginal rib or side wall 39.

A tread 4 0 of suitable material is arranged within the tread carryingmember between the side walls B9 and fitting the convex face of the body38. T his tread 40 is continuous and it is secured to the tread carryingmember and the tread member. by meansl of rivets V41. which are'arrangedin series near each rib 3f). The tread l0 may be of leather,rubberor thelike, and the rivets 41 assist the tread to grip the supporting surfaceof the wheel.-

T heimproved tire is designed for wheels 'of any character, and the sidewalls 2 of the tread member tting within the portions 13 of the anglerings as they do. the'entrance of dust is prevented.. .T he plungers 9and tlieguide casings- 10`permit a limited angular movement of the rimmember and the l tread member with 'respect toeach other,

while at the same time they prevent displacement'of the stop members 26and 30 with respect to each other. 4 The springs 35 thoroughly cushionall'shock and jar, and by meansof the bolts and nuts 20-I21 the anglerings may be moved toward the side walls 2 of the tread members tocompensate forwear and to make a tight joint. W'hen the springs 35 arecompressed the stop memmeines bers 26 anti 3G move toward each other ifthe compression is earrecl far enough the small ends of the said memberswill :contant to limit the movement of the tread an the rim memberstoward each other.

To place the tire tbe nuts 17 may be loosened to permit sufficientexpansion of belt 1l for the placing of the tire., The

Y angle rings l2-l3 may be removed by means of the nuts 2l. ln placingthe tire on the Wheel the tire is iirst dismountefl anni disassembled.The nuts 21 are releaseol and one of the angle rings 12-13 is removecl.The tread member may new be removed, and the rim may be placed on therim of the Wheel. After the rim. has been placed, the nuts l' aretigbtenecl after the belt ll has been fitted closely to the rim of theWheel.

The. treail member is now placed, after which the angie ring lQ--l3,which has been removed, is replaced. The rivets 18 serve as a guide forthe replacing of the angle rings. After the angle ring has been replacedthe nuts 2l are threaded onto the nuts 20 to hold theangle rings inproper relation with respect to the tread member anol the tire is readyfor use.

l. A spring tire, comprising a' rim member consisting of a split belt,means for se.

curing the ends together on the telly of the Wheel, a pair of anglerings, each consisting of portions extending at approximately a right.angle Witn respect to each other,

one et the saicl portions of eacl'i ring fitting the outer ieee of thebelt at one side thereof, means in connection with the belt and therings for preventing angular movement of the rings with respeet to thebelt, means for' drawing the. angle rings toward each other,

and a U-shapecl. tread vmember of annular form consisting of a body andside Walls, the

side Walls fitting between. the radial pon 2. A spring tire,comprising'a rim member consisting of a split belt, means .tor se#curing the ends together on the telly of the Wheel, a ,pair of anglerings, each consisting of portions extending at approximately a rightangle with respectl to each other, one or' the said portions of eachring fitting the outer face of the belt at one side thereof,

means in connection with thel belt andthe rings for preventingangularmovement of the rings with respect to the belt, means for drawing theangle rings towardL each other,

and a U-shapecl tread member or' annular iorin consisting of a body andside Walls, cushioning mechanism arranged between the tread member andthe vrim member, and Leans for limiting the angular movement of thetread member with respect .to the rim, member.

CARL F. CRlG. VVXLLAM FREEMAN.

lVitnesses:

J, B. Jannie, W. H. Beoenorn

